This was our second voyage on the Zuiderdam the first being last year in Alaska. We have also sailed on other lines.

We arrived in Ft Lauderdale the day before and stayed at the Embassy Suites on 17th street. The rooms have all been redone and very nice. One disappointment was that they now charge $8 each for the shuttle when it used to be free. We took the first shuttle over and were on the ship before 12:30pm.

At the port, if you don't tip the porter they leave your bag on the sidewalk until it absolutely must go on board. If you tip, it goes right in the bin and on to ship. Read more